Necktie knot-forming tool

ABSTRACT

A tie shaper in the nature of a hand tool for use as an aid in the formation of a necktie knot by gathering the necktie material into a dimple within and below the knot, has a pair of dimpleforming elements which are placed on opposite sides of the front panel of the tie and then slipped upwardly into the knot while the latter is still loose. As the elements are thereupon compressed toward each other, the tie material of the front panel is gathered and drawn into one of the elements, forming the dimple. Then the tool is removed and the dimple is held in place by hand as the knot is tightened onto the dimple.

United States Patent [1 1 Pro [ NECKTIE KNOT-FORMING TOOL [76] Inventor: George M. Pro, 9307 Lee Blvd,

Leawood, Kans. 66206 22 Filed: Jan. 3, 1972 211 Appl.No.:214,799

[52] US. Cl 223/111, 81/3, 223/35 [51] Int. Cl. A47j 51/06 [58] Field of Search ..223/1 1 l-l 18, 34-35, 223/46, 81-83, 103-105; 28/2; 161/9-10; 2/150-153; 81/3 [451 Aug. 14, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 250,123 4/1926 Great Britain 223/35 1,002,574 10/1951 France 223/82 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-William L. Falk Attomey-Schmidt, Johnson, l-lovey & Williams ABSTRACT A tie shaper in the nature of a hand tool for use as an aid in the fen-nation of a necktie knot by gathering the necktie material into a dimple within and below the knot, has a pair of dimple-forming elements which are placed on opposite sides of the front panel of the tie and then slipped upwardly into the knot while the latter is still loose. As the elements are thereupon compressed toward each other, the tie material of the front panel is gathered and drawn into one of the elements, forming the dimple. Then the tool is removed and the dimple is held in place by hand as the knot is tightened onto the dimple.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,374

NECKTIE KNOT-FORMING TOOL This invention relates to the field of personal grooming and has as an important object to provide a hand tool which may be quickly and easily used to aid in the formation of a neat, smooth, attractive knot in a necktie.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a necktie tool which may be used to present a smart appearing, fashionable dimple in the front panel of the tie. I

Still another important object of my present invention is the provision of a tool that is capable of forming that type of simple, tasteful dimple, extending from within the knot and therebelow, which will result in a properly shaped, trim, stylish knot that is not unduly bulky or distastefully large and heavy appearing.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of a hand tool which may be used advantageously with virtually all types and sizes of ties made from various materials, and which is especially useful in connection with those ties that are relatively heavy, wide and otherwise difficult to tie in a manner to result in elegance in dress and appearance.

A still further important object of the instant inven tion is the provision of a spring-loaded tool having forming elements which may be readily inserted deeply into the loose knot such that a sufficient amount of the material may be gathered into a dimple so as to assure that the dimple and the knot are firmly held against loosening after the knot is tightened about the gathered material.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a necktie knot-forming tool made according to the present invention having a portion broken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side elevational view thereof, parts of the handle being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, end elevational view thereof; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating steps in the formation ofa dimple in a tie using the tool of the present invention.

A hand tool 10 is generally L-shaped in configuration and broadly comprises a handle 12 having a pair of upstanding, opposed, normally spaced-apart elements 14 and 16 which may be used to cause the formation of a dimple 46 in the outer panel of a necktie 44 when elements 14 and 16 are moved relatively toward each other. Handle 12, and elements 14 and 16, may be conveniently formed from a continuous stretch of spring wire to facilitate construction and lower the cost of the tool 10.

Handle 12 is generally U-shapetl, including a pair of opposed arms 18 and 20 which are joined at one end by a crosspiece 22 for flexure toward and away from each other when inward pressure is applied and then released from the opposite ends thereof. Handle 12 also includes a flat, hollow grip 24 of vinyl material or the like which encases both of the arms 18 and 20, yet permits relative inward and outward movement thereof. Six opposed nibs 26, formed on the upper and lower interior surfaces of grip 24, confine the crosspiece 22 of handle 12 thereby serving to retain grip 24 in place.

The element 14 is integral with arm 18 of handle 12 at the forwardmost end of the latter and includes an incline'd section 28 and a normally vertically disposed finger 30 having an uppermost tip 30a. Element 16 is correspondingly integral with the forwardmost end of arm 20 and includes a generally U-shaped loop 32 for receiving finger 30 when elements 14 and 16 are compressed toward each other. Loop 32 has a pair of normally vertically disposed, spaced-apart legs 34 and 36, and a bight portion 38 at the upper ends of legs 34 and 36 interconnecting the latter. Bight portion 38 is outtumed with respect to finger 30 and is substantially longitudinally spaced from tip 300. Finger 30 and legs 34 and 36 are substantially parallel to one another, with finger 30 moving laterally between and through legs 34 and 36 during use of tool 10. A terminus section 40 at the lowermost end of leg 34 extends toward handle 12 for a short distance below arm 20 thereof.

It must be recognized at this juncture that formation of a satisfactory knot 42 in the tie 44 is oftentimes quite difficult, especially in relatively wide ties or in those ties made from heavy material. Excess tie material may result in a knot 42 that is large, bulky, uneven and otherwise unattractive unless such excess material is gathered into a neat appearing dimple 46. Formation of the dimple 46 with ones fingers, and at the same time pull excess material uniformly toward the center of the outer tie leg while tightening the knot 42 thereon is a rather exasperating task.

However, tool 10 may quickly and easily be used for that purpose, it being understood that the tool 10 as shown and described is intended for right-hand use, although, manifestly, the principles of operation are identical for left-hand use. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the user of tool 10 should prepare a loose knot 42 in tie 44 in any conventional manner before employing tool 10. The wide, front portion of tie 44 should be smooth, with no wrinkles or folds, as shown in FIG. 4, with the side edges of the wide portion turned inwardly toward the wearers shirt instead of curling outwardly therefrom, while the narrow, back portion of tie 44 should be in the center of knot 42 without twisted edges. Tool 10 is then gripped by handle 12 and slipped into position on tie 44 with the wide portion of the latter disposed between element 16 and finger 30. Tool 10 may then be raised to insert both loop 32 and tip 30a of finger 30 into knot 42 on opposite sides of the wide tie portion as shown in FIG. 5, making certain that finger 30 is centered on the wide portion and the element 16 disposed between the two tie panels. Thereupon, compression of the arms 18 and 20 at points between grip 24 and elements 14, 16 causes the finger 30 to gather excess material toward the center of the outer tie panel and draw or fold the same into loop 32 and between legs 34 and 36. The sides of the knot 42 near its lower end should then be grasped to hold the dimple 46 in place while tool 10 is removed by first slipping it downwardly out of the knot 42. The tool 10 is then laid aside and subsequent tightening of the loose knot 42, while the latter is grasped and the dimple 46 is held in place, causes the gathered material within knot 42 to be firmly held in its folded condition by the tight knot 42, producing the dimple 46 formed within and immediately below the tightened knot 42 as shown in FIG. 6. By then pulling upon the narrow portion of tie 44, knot 42 may be slipped upwardly into its proper position between the points of collar 48.

It will be appreciated that by gathering equal amounts of excess material from both sides to the center of the outer panel the tool 10 forms the accuratelycentered dimple and eliminates repetitious trial and error attempts at producing an attractive, well-tied necktie. Moreover, an equally important aspect of tool 10, in view of the expensive materials often used in the manufacture of modern ties, is its virtually snag-proof design. Note in particular that tip 30a of finger 30 is rounded, the terminus section 40 on leg 34 of loop 32 extends transversely of tie 44 to present a smooth outer periphery, and bight 38 is smooth and rounded. Thus, when the wide portion of tie 44 is slipped over the various surfaces of tool 10, no damaging snagging occurs. Moreover, the gentle gathering and drawing action effected by moving finger 30 into loop 32 is incapable of damaging the structural fibers of tie 44.

Also of significance is the fact that finger 30 and loop 32 may readily be inserted and removed from knot 42 by virtue of their smooth, anti-snagging design and the fact that bight portion 38 is slightly angularly offset to correspond to the configuration of the interior of knot 42. Further, because bight portion 38 is substantially spaced from fingertip 300, the tie material above tip 30a is not restricted from entering loop 32, thereby assuring that a sufficient amount of gathered, compressed tie material is held within knot 42 to prevent loosening of dimple 46. Additionally, because the bight 38 is substantially longitudinally spaced from the fingertip 30a, the legs 34 and 36 may be spaced at a relatively close distance to each other to accommodate very narrow ties and thin, slick ties, yet can accommodate large, heavy ties because of the fact that the legs 34 and 36 can spring apart as the finger 30 passes between them. The fabric in very narrow ties and thin, slick ties tends to be pulled from only one side or the other if the legs 34 and 36 are spaced far enough apart to accommodate large, heavy ties.

The grip 24 is, of course, not needed, nor is it necessary to provide a handle, as such, particularly in the form shown at 12 and including the arms 18, 20 and the crosspiece 22. These components are, of course, helpful in that the grip 24 lies in the palm of the hand as the fingers of the user press the exposed portions of arms 18 and 20 toward each other. The grip 24 also provides an area for a name or advertising to be placed thereon. However, in lieu of the grip and handle, as such, arms 18 and 20 could be joined by a crosspiece similar to the crosspiece 22 but at a distance from the section 28 and the leg 36 no greater than is necessary to just clear the edge of the tie. In this case the much shorter arms 18 and 20 are held between the user's fingers and pressed toward each other thereby as before. Of course, the shorter arms 18 and 20 being less resilient, their diameters could be decreased to increase their resilience.

The precise length of the finger 30 as shown is also not critical. For example, the finger 30 might well be extended toward the plane of the arms 18, 20, whereupon the section 28 would be shortened and disposed at a shallower incline.

To some extent these changes may depend upon the nature of the tie itself. It is difficult in large, heavy ties to form a neat, attractive knot because of the fact that the excess fabric material increases the size of the knot quite appreciably and causes nonuniform puckering unless the excess material is pulled uniformly and sufficiently toward the center into the dimple 46. The dimple 46 formed by the finger 30 between the legs 34 and 36 takes up a portion of the tie material much the same as a pleat or fold in cloth made by doubling material over on itself. The result is a smaller or at least a better appearing knot.

On the other hand, in the case of smaller ties, the need for the dimple is for attractiveness rather than primarily to take up excess material at, within and below the knot. Thus the distance between the legs 34 and 36, the normal spacing between the finger 30 and the legs 34, 36, and other dimensions may be chosen according to the type of tie with which the tool is to be used.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the tool has been described in connection with the so-called fourin-hand necktie that is tied in a slipknot with the long ends of the tie overlapping vertically in front, but the manner of tying the knot is a matter of personal choice. Moreover, the dimple need not be centered if one feels that proper styles current at any given time dictate otherwise.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A tool for forming a dimple in the elongated front panel of a necktie within and below a knot in the necktie, said tool comprising:

a connector section having a pair of spaced-apart members for receiving the panel transversely therebetween, i

said section further including means joining said members for relative movement toward one another from opposite, front and back sides of the panel;

a generally U-shaped, elongated forming loop projecting from one of said members at generally right angles with the plane of said section for disposition longitudinally of the panel,

said loop being secured at one end to the section and having an outwardly arcuate, knot-entering bight at the opposite end thereof remote from the section; and

an elongated forming finger projecting from the other of said members alongside said loop at generally right angles with the plane of said section for disposition longitudinally of the panel to force portions of said panel within and below said knot to be drawn transversely into said loop to form the dimple when said loop and said finger are inserted into the body of the knot and the members moved relatively toward one another.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1,

said finger haiving an outermost tip spaced longitudinally from said bight.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1,

said bight being outtumed away from said conform to the interior of the knot.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loop is yieldable laterally in opposite directions as material is folded thereinto by said finger.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 1,

said bight being outtumed away from said finger,

said finger having an outermost tip spaced longitudinally from said bight and disposed at the point of outturn of said bight from the remainder of the loop.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 1,

said loop being open at said one end thereof opposite said bight for relieving stress on the panel during dimple formation.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 6,

finger to said finger being disposed totally within the longitudinal limits of said loop,

said finger having an inclined component connecting the same to said other member and projecting away from the plane of the loop as the section is approached.

8. A method of forming a dimple in the elongated front panel of a necktie within and below a knot in the necktie, said method comprising the steps of:

placing flatly against one face of the panel a forming loop having an outwardly arcuate bight;

placing flatly against the opposite face of the panel an elongated forming finger in registration with said loop;

place.

i l i i 

1. A tool for forming a dimple in the elongated front panel of a necktie within and below a knot in the necktie, said tool comprising: a connector section having a pair of spaced-apart members for receiving the panel transversely therebetween, said section further including means joining said members for relative movement toward one another from opposite, front and back sides of the panel; a generally U-shaped, elongated forming loop projecting from one of said members at generally right angles with the plane of said section for disposition longitudinally of the panel, said loop being secured at one end to the section and having an outwardly arcuate, knot-entering bight at the opposite end thereof remote from the section; and an elongated forming finger projecting from the other of said members alongside said loop at generally right angles with the plane of said sectIon for disposition longitudinally of the panel to force portions of said panel within and below said knot to be drawn transversely into said loop to form the dimple when said loop and said finger are inserted into the body of the knot and the members moved relatively toward one another.
 2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said finger haiving an outermost tip spaced longitudinally from said bight.
 3. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said bight being outturned away from said finger to conform to the interior of the knot.
 4. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loop is yieldable laterally in opposite directions as material is folded thereinto by said finger.
 5. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said bight being outturned away from said finger, said finger having an outermost tip spaced longitudinally from said bight and disposed at the point of outturn of said bight from the remainder of the loop.
 6. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said loop being open at said one end thereof opposite said bight for relieving stress on the panel during dimple formation.
 7. A tool as claimed in claim 6, said finger being disposed totally within the longitudinal limits of said loop, said finger having an inclined component connecting the same to said other member and projecting away from the plane of the loop as the section is approached.
 8. A method of forming a dimple in the elongated front panel of a necktie within and below a knot in the necktie, said method comprising the steps of: placing flatly against one face of the panel a forming loop having an outwardly arcuate bight; placing flatly against the opposite face of the panel an elongated forming finger in registration with said loop; shifting the opposed loop and finger longitudinally along said panel and into said knot with said bight of the loop leading the remainder of the latter; moving said finger and loop relatively toward one another while maintaining the same within said knot to gather adjacent portions of said panel laterally into the loop, hence producing a dimple within and below the knot; gripping the gathered portions of the panel; removing said loop and finger from the knot longitudinally of thE panel while said portions are gripped; and tightening said knot to retain the dimple in place. 